This blog is a result of the heavy censoring of the media by the military dictatorship regime.

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Air Pacific accused of trying to steal traditional i-taukei designs

i-taukei designs: campaign pic

Is Air Pacific aka Fiji Airways making another greedy grab?

It looks like it is.

The national airline, under the hands of CEO David Pflieger and Tourism Minister, Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum, siphoned FNPF dollars into the airline last year, propping up its profit margins to make its books look good, despite the fact it had been losing huge sums of money.

The duo had before then hatched the vicious Essential National Industries Decree, which robbed both workers and the union movement of rights.

The company is now trying to patent traditional i-taukei designs for its own exclusive use.

A number of Fiji people are against the idea and have started a campaign on Facebook to stop Air Pacific getting exclusive rights to the designs for commercial purposes.

Many of those already voicing their outrage are women who say the airline has no right to patent the designs, which were created by Fiji women and which they use today for masi and other decorations.

Part of the campaign letter says: "... Air Pacific wants to get a Patent on 15 common Kesakesa
designs. A patent is basically a grant made by a government that confers
upon the creator of an invention the sole right to make, use, and sell
that invention for a set period of time.

"And so if other people use the
design, we may have to pay a certain amount of cash to use the designs!

"Firstly, who invented the design? The Itaukei women of the past. So Im
not going to let Air Pacific take that part of FIJI. They can use it,
they can't say they own it!"

Full letter can be seen at the top of the C4.5 blog under or via the following links:

why be surprised if you are robbed? don't you know fiji is under thug rule? robbery will happen. the people of fiji have been robbed of a lawful government! and you people talking about masi design theft!

Its no use talking Godly stuff here, just get all the I Tauke march in the streets of Suva, force this suckers out in streets, strip them naked, and blody shoot them with their own guns.

We kai Viti just talk and cry too much. Remember when Moses cried tobGod when the Israelites were stucked at the bank of thr sea? God told him, why are you crying to me? tell the people to move forward, Exodus 14:15. Are we God's people can do that, or are going to keep on like a crying baby, when these useless thieves stole everything from us, our women, our land, God knows what else.

God we need a Moses in Fiji right now who can take us out of this mess.

This regime has trampled on everything the indeginous people of Fiji that identify them as a race. Language,culture,tradition art...everything.Wont be surprised if they say `kesakesa`came from Europe or Asia.No respect at all for others,

How can anyone be expecting the Ministry of i Taukei or its PS to stop anything the Fijian Military Dictatorship has approved?They are all dancing to the regime's tune.Most of the Ministry top dogs are no spine no moral compass gang!!They are there ONLY to do the Dictatorship's biddings.

The Australian PM has announced that the next elections will take place on 14 September. This announcement 9 months before the elections makes it clear that a clear structured election system is in place to ensure a free and fair election giving the Australian people the right to choose their next government without fear.That's how things are done in a good democracy. Everything out in the open - in the public domain - to inspire public confidence in the system and to ensure democratic accountability and transparency and PUBLIC SCRUTINY.

air pacific sent its two top appointed pilots (not the best pilots but the appointed top yes men) to France to train on the new airbus A330 but they both failed the courses and had to repeat them a number of times before they were allowed to touch the real planes. These two idiots will also be responsible for safety - how many times will it take before they get it right and how many passenger lives at risk?. The two idiots are the chief pilot Joshua Cavalevu and the Project Captain Jone Turaganivalu. Will you be safe - especially if yes-men are appointed over more qualified pilots - just like the nay bainimagana was appointed over more qualified and highly intelligent army officers....

Semi Meo and kamlesh kumari are quiet because they've just realized their mistake in supporting this evil pig of a man Bainimagaitinamu. In fact they're ashamed to be supporting the thief all this time.

you kai viti are being robbed by your own kai...notice how the taliban always says "the Prime Minister..." well now its your own kai thats robbing you..and you complain about LQ and your chiefs?Its up to you kai viti to stop this...no one else can

Alisi says the kai india got here before you kaiviti...Voreqe gets the taliban to get rid of your chiefs and church...Voreqe allows Fleabag to turn your designs into a flying tapa...And your Army stands ready to shoot anyone, including kaiviti who disagrees...When the kaiindia got into power you shot them.Now its your own kais thats doing the damage with the help of the taliban as always...What else can the rest of us do???Its your call kaivitis.

juluumbaat, all u are worried about is your Chodry government being stolen...you dont give two hoots about your brother and sister kaivitis being robbed of their very being and existence...just waiting to say, you kaiviti cant look after yourselves...let the kaiindia run your country for you.Dennis Rounds is right about youAbsolutely no respect.

WHAT HAS FRANK BAINIMARAMA DONE TO HIS COMMUNITY/VILLAGE/PROVINCE BEFORE HIS COUP? YES YOU'RE RIGHT IT'S NOTHING!!! A BIG FAT ZERO!!

ARE WE GOING TO ALLOW THIS FORM 4 FAILURE TO LEAD US DOWN THIS PATH OF ECONOMIC DESTRUCTIONS? ARE WE GOING TO ALLOW THIS SILLY SAILOR WHO ROSE THROUGH THE RANKS THROUGH CORRUPT PRACTICES IN THE ARMY?ARE WE GOING TO ALLOW THIS STUPID SAILOR, WHO NEEDS CONSTANT COACHING BY QORVIS AND GRAHAM DAVIES TO LEAD US? MIGHT AS WELL ELECT GRAHAM DAVIES AND QORVIS TO LEAD US.WHAT WE NEED IS A TRUE LEADER WHO SPEAKS WITH CONVICTION AND IS SELFLESS, NOT BULLYING PEOPLE THROUGH DECREES OR SHIFTING GOAL POST EVERYTIME HE FEELS INSECURE.BEFORE BAINIMARAMA OPENS HIS MOUTH WE CAN ALL READ HIS MIND AND THE CONNIVING GAME PLAN FED TO HIM BY HIS ADVISORS. HE DOESN'T HAVE THE INTELLECT TO LEAD OUR COUNTRY NOR THINK ON HIS OWN. HOW MUCH ARE THE TAX PAYERS PAYING QORVIS?

C'MON FOLKS IT'S TIME WE LEAVE OUR DIFFERENCES ASIDE AND UNITE TO KICK OUT THIS DICTATOR OR WE'LL BE THE LAUGHING STOCK ON THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE. PEOPLE WILL THINK WE'RE ALL SILLY LIKE FRANK. IS THIS THE BEST WE'VE GOT? HELL NO!

Everybody keep alert for application by "Air Pacific" for rights over the tapa design...so we can all strongly object to the receiver of that application on grounds of Taukei's cultural, traditional and customary existing rights over the design adopted by the airline. We already have now and over the last centuries the use, and identity with the design....we have intellectual rights over the design and we will use it in anyway consistent with our welbeing, customs, tradition and practices. We have prior rights as a people.

Air Pacific will regret if legally given rights to the design....we will mount negative campaigns worldwide to remind potential passengers that flying by Air Pacific is supporting the Airline in its cultural genocide on the i-Taukeis of Fiji.

FNPF have pumped money to save Air Pacific.Natadola and Momi.I call it bad Investment.I hope and pray FNPF have made wise investment .if not fnpf will end like NBF.Why cant FNPF and Govt really help Fijian land Owners to own Resorts and Hotel on 50/50 basis.FNPF have investment with Tappoo.Why not Land Owners?God BlessRajesh

Print this pageEmail this pageThe proposed Social Democratic Liberal Party has sent out their teams to all the divisions to gather 5,000 member signatures to register as a political party before February 14th.

Fijivillage has received confirmation that a team led by Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu is gathering signatures in the Northern division while other teams are in the Central and Western divisions.

Teams have also flown to Kadavu, Vanuabalavu and Lakeba.

Spokesperson for the proposed Social Democratic Liberal Party Doctor Tupeni Baba said they are receiving a good response.

There is an audio file attached to this story. Please login to listen.

When asked on the need to be registered as a party before the February 14th deadline to be invited to be part of the Constituent Assembly, Doctor Baba said the new SDL will be ready by that time.

There is an audio file attached to this story. Please login to listen.

Parties that register by the February 14th deadline under the Political Parties Decree will be invited to be part of the Constituent Assembly.

This has been confirmed by Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama as he waits for the deadline to be over before making a formal announcement.

Fijivillage has received confirmation that Commodore Bainimarama is sending invitations to individuals and organizations to be members of the assembly over the course of the next few weeks.

The last of the invitations will go out after the February 14th deadline.

The Constituent Assembly is scheduled to have its first sitting in February.

The assembly has the duty to review and approve the draft constitution.

This intellectual property should only belong to the iTaukei collectively. The designs have been commercially stolen by Air Pacific through their contracted design company and now Pleiger wants to claim them for himself. Such arrogance is so typical from him. Cant wait for the parliamentary investigation into Air Pacific in 2014 !!!!!

Editor,At his Tom Lantos Human Rights Prize award ceremony in Washington on Tuesday the blind Chinese human rights activist Chen Guangcheng said "We need to bring to an end this period of history during which the Communist authority maintains a monopoly on power through a leadership of thieves and establish a truly civil society".The ceremony was attended by several US lawmakers and high profile public figures. Chen's speech was a stinking rebuke to authorities in China where he faced years of persecution for his fight for citizens' rights.(Source : Dissident Chen Guangcheng urges Chinese to end the nation's "leadership of thieves" in Newser 30/1 and Aljazeera News 30/1, 3.30PM).I am sure the human rights activists and pro-democracy advocates fighting to end the military dictatorship in Fiji will not fail to notice the parallels.sincerely,rajend naidusydney

Anon says......your itaukei identity, culture and tradition had eroded since the white man arrived in Viti not Fiji. Feejee was the term used by Tongans when Europeans asked the Tongans about the leeward Islands North of Tonga. Itaukei culture and tradition today has been influenced by the lotu which had also stripped itaukei of anything itaukei to the point that itaukei today do not celebrate or perform certain traditional cultural practises because it is believed to be demonic as preached by the vesu mona talatala. What is in a tapa design? Does any of you who feel itaukei heritage has been stolen know exactly what the intricate tapa design means. Can any of you on this blog make tapa or even draw any of the designs. Its an art that pretty much only exists in Lau and very little of the people in the main lands continue to make them including mats. The lady who designed the tapa is in fact from a humble island in Lau called Namuka with ties to Kabara. These are the traditional Islands where some of the best tapa and designs had been created which has polynesian influences. The aboriginals are very passionate about their designs and drawing. In fact before anyone decides to create a drawing or design similar to tapa designs which reflects past events or ancestors they ask for permissiom from their elders and perform their traditional dances etc. Does the itaukei do this. I dont think so. They may have used to do something but that has been lost over the last 160 years with the religious and european influence. I would rather suggest that all you who speak of tapa and designs and stolen heritage, please learn how to make tapa and print designs on the tapa. Learn what each design signifies so you can teach your children and hold on to a tradition and art that soon will be lost.

someone put it correctly,Elex Elbourne is a blockhead,not a smart at all,he said he entertains,yeah that's all he does,does he???? and justifies his behaviour saying it's the most popular radio show,how pompous and what a jerk.If he were a sensible man he would not ask for info on fb regarding the air pacific masi patency issue,get a life guy,get more meaning into your life,mouthing off with krystal on the morning show is not all there is to life,you jerk.

juluumbaat...sorry brother u r wrong again.I am more qualified than you and your children and grand children will ever be...the only which you have and I havent is a Professorship in RacismI am a Fijian in the new clssification...just like you are Australian in your new home.Talk issues mate....not bullshit politiks and racism.Cheers mate

what's racist about pointing out the kailomas were anti -Indian during the Rabuka coup? remember it was not only the german nazis but but many others who ganged up against the jews! that kind of thing happens. it happened in fiji. burying your head in the sand and pretending will not change that.and calling me a racist will not change that.

does the design refelect our multi cultural community? the regime talks about diversity and racial tolerance. does it demonstrate that in the logo or will it shows on the flag? there is something amiss in all these.

psssst juluumbat.....want to know a secret....Frank and his wife are two big Kailoma Half Caste. In fact Frank is more half caste than his wife who is a Kean. Your probably right, he is racist and will shoot your ass very soon so why dont you bury your sorry head up his fat ass and while your at it, clean his ass because it is full of vudi and bananas stuck in his ass ole from running down the banana patch at the QBE camp...ha ha haha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha whooo hoooo....Frank is a kail loma half kasi...Two half caste committed coup, George and Frank.

isa dont know how much they paid the lady..must be peanuts aye.They're actaully using my tokatoka and mataqali names..dont know whther the mataqali qalitoka gave their authority the right for air pac to use their name .it will be on the seat i heard..wowbeautiful designs though..proud of the Namuka masi designs but cheap labour..very very cheap labour . feel sorry for our aunty

you missed the point completely bro...no wonder you cant see yourself being robbed of your chiefs, church, culture, identity...just wait till your land becomes the land for all Fijians,,, because thats the natural and inevitable conclustion to kranky's vision...then you gonna cry but its too late.no wonder also that the kaivitis are the poorest in your country...just ask Alisi Daurewa...and she blames your culture for it...what a big liumuri

All I hear this talk but no action. How about if we all meet up in Suva toda in the afternoon and do a peaceful march to the PM's Office and ask him to answer the public's asks about his salary etc. This afternoon at 4pm! Anybody